Men jailed for 20 years for hijacking and abducting pregnant woman

Jun 13, 2018

Port Elizabeth police say that the hijacking of vehicles and the abduction of vehicle owners is receiving priority by the SAPS.

"We cannot allow our community to be abducted this way. As SAPS we will do everything in our mandate to secure and investigate such crimes being committed to ensure that criminals are apprehended and given sentences fitting their crimes," added the Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie.

This follows after two convicted hijackers were sentenced in the New Brighton Magistrate's Court on Monday.

"Mzwanele Gumenge, 29, and Thulani Magalela, 26, were both sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for hijacking, as well as five years for abduction," desxcribed police spokesperson, Captain Andre Beetge.

He said that their trial stems from an incident that happened on 17 October 2016, at 12:00, when the two suspects hijacked and abducted a 30-year-old woman, being nine months pregnant, from her workplace.

"She was entering the Kwadwesi Clinic when the two males approached her and pretended to make an enquiry about a doctor.

"They produced a firearm and took her back to the parking area to her VW Polo," he said.

"She was forced into the back seat and then the men drove off with her to Bloemfontein. After she faked an impending delivery of her unborn child, the suspects dropped her off next to the N1 and she walked to a petrol station where the police were alerted to what happened."

The Welkom SAPS Flying Squad then chased and apprehended the two suspects on the N1.

Capt Beetge said that the victim was admitted to the Pilonomy private hospital in Bloemfontein.

"The suspects had their first court appearance on 20 October 2016 and were denied bail. They remained in custody till their conviction on 25 May 2018, and yesterday 11 June 18 they received sentencing."

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